The new Fair Work legislation in Australia will result in significant changes across the industrial relations landscape.
In addition to the establishment of 10 employment standards that establish a minimum set of conditions for the majority of workplaces, there is a key focus around the concept of 'good faith bargaining'.
In essence, good faith bargaining is about the preparedness of employers and their employees, together with employee representatives where nominated, to engage in collective bargaining.
For many organisations this is not something that has had to be done for some years. The previous government's Work Choices provisions set out different rules, many of which have now been taken over by the Fair Work Act.
The requirement to engage in good faith bargaining will mean that many companies will need to build the skills of their HR departments and line managers. Middle and senior management will be particulalry impacted as many of the outcomes of new agreements will be subject ot control at these layers of management.
Acquiring skills and competencies in all aspects of workplace bargaining and negotiation will be critical in this new environment.
Already middle management is facing a crisis of skills development as a result of the impact of restructuring and the need to be more accountable for bottom line outcomes. The pressures of the Fair Work changes will add to the complexity of the role.
The establishment of the Centre for Fair Work Bargaining is designed to address the skills and competency development needs of managers in the industrial relations environment.
For further details contact ron.jones@createhr.com.au
